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1.-World Congress 2020 meeting

At Cuba Salud 2018, professors Carlo Signorelli and Anna Odone of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health presented the next World Congress on Public Health to the convention as well as to WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus.

The World Congress is an important event held by the WFPHA, with the support of partners and other organizations, that takes place once every 2-3 years. The Congress serves as an international forum for the exchange of knowledge and experiences on key public health issues, contributing towards protecting and promoting public health at a national and global level.

The next World Congress on Public Health will be hosted by SItI and EUPHA and is taking place in Rome, Italy, in October 2020. Stay tuned!

2.-WFPHA General Assembly

The next General Assembly of the WFPHA will take place on May 20th 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland at the Graduate Institute.

Please be aware that attendance of the General Assembly is open to WFPHA members on invitation only.

During the General Assembly the strategic direction of the WFPHA will be discussed and the new Vice President/President Elect, as well as several Governing Council Members, will be elected.

President Elect Candidates:

Georges C. Benjamin

American Public Health Association

Country: United States of America

Claude D. Betts

Panamanian Society for Public Health

Country: Panama

Walter Ricciardi

Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health

Country: Italy

A comprehensive webpage of bionotes, backgrounds, and qualifications for our presidential candidates, as well as a complete list of governing council candidates and their supplementary information will be posted to our website in the weeks leading up to the General Assembly.

For more information please visit our website to get a full picture of the agenda, activities, and workshop that will be held during our General Assembly and in the following weeks!

3.-Strategic Plan

A new Strategic Plan for the WFPHA is currently being finalized. The plan will be presented at the upcoming General Assembly for review and approval.

We look forward to the new direction our federation will take in the years to come!

4.-Annual Report

The WFPHA Annual Report for 2017 is in its final stages before being made public on our website.

In it you can find a review of the outputs of the WFPHA and its associated bodies in the last year.

Global Charter Implementation, Working Group Activites, Member's Outcomes and more will all be covered.

The WFPHA recognizes that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a major global health concern that needs to be addressed globally in line with the values stated in the Global Charter for the Public's Health. To contribute to the fight, the WFPHA will run an International Global Health and Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop on May 23rd 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The International Global Health & Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop 2018 will consist of a one-day set of interactive presentations, discussions, will address practical problem, and will include debates involving professionals from all sectors and industries that are involved with antimicrobial resistance.

In particular, the Workshop programme will include topics on:

- The complexity of Resistance

- AMR as a risk for health, security and development

- AMR surveillance and research

- Optimization of the use of antimicrobial agents

- Common problems and possible solutions for programmatic management of AMR

- International aspects of antimicrobial resistance

- Actors and partnership to fight AMR

- Sustainable investments for AMR

- AMR action plan & health system strengthening

This workshop will convene experts in AMR at the global level to showcase experiences, challenges and possible solutions to face AMR. A special focus will be addressed on the need to set up resilient and secure health systems.

Confirmed speakers include:

Attending the workshop is free but registration is mandatory at the following link: WFPHA AMR Workshop

If you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting with us, please contact us at:

Stay tuned as we continue to unveil more speakers!

6.-Indigenous Health Working Group Event

The Indigenous Health Working Group (IHWG) of the WFPHA is hosting a free event on Thursday, 24th of May 2018.

The event will be the official launch of the Working Group and also aims to identify Indigenous peoples priorities.

The event will take place from 1 pm to 5 pm at the Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines 9, Geneva, Switzerland. This site is easily reached on the 25 bus line, "Mines" stop, or a short walk from Palais des Nations.

Make sure to follow @IndigenousWFPHA for more updates on this important event! Any additional questions can be directed to

7.-Speak Up:

The WFPHA supports the Global Child Dental Fund (GCDF) resolution calling for 20% of the revenues generated through a taxation on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) to be allocated to oral health promotion programs.

Currently, 28 countries have introduced a sugar tax on food and drinks. The revenues generated from this sugar tax have been invested in efforts to reduce and prevent obesity and type II diabetes, such as the development of physical education and healthy eating programs in schools with less or no focus going towards oral health promotion and prevention.

Nearly half of the world's population (48%) is affected by oral diseases and has suffered disabilities from oral diseases. 2.5 billion people have dental carries on permanent teeth, including in developed countries. Sugar is the primary factor responsible for the development of tooth decay. In the "Fiscal Policies for Diet and Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs)", the WHO has clearly highlighted the negative impact of SSBs on obesity, diabetes, AND tooth decay. Twhy, then are resources only being allocated to obesity and diabetes prevention, and not towards promoting oral health as well?

While oral health is an integral part of overall health, well-being and quality of life, it has traditionally been compartmentalized in healthcare and segregated from public health systems. Thus, oral diseases have become a neglected epidemic. The WFPHA calls for oral health to be integrated into overall health policies using cross-sector and holistic approaches for health promotion and led by good governance, in accordance with the Global Charter for the Public's Health. We need to educate the public about the detrimental effect of sugar on teeth and the importance of affordable fluoridated toothpaste.

Swiss Federal Act on Tobacco Products Proposal

As is outlined in the Global Charter for the Public's Health, the WFPHA is committed to the Promotion of the public's health and the Protection of the human right to a healthy life.

In March 2018, the Swiss Parliament in Berne is discussing a bill proposal that will defend the position of the tobacco industry at the expense of the public's health, giving bigger freedom to advertising of Tobacco Products, so further distancing Switzerland from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Thus, the WFPHA has joined a petition of signatories, initiated by the SSPH+, in opposition of this proposed Federal Act on Tobacco Products. We call on others to join in the refusal of this bill.

The WFPHA has signed the Cape Town Declaration on Human Rights and a Tobacco-free World

The 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH2018) resulted in the creation of the Cape Town Declaration on Human Rights and a Tobacco-free World. The marketing and sale of tobacco is a violation of the human right to a healthy life.

As is outlined in the Global Charter for the Public's Health, the WFPHA is committed to the Promotion of the public's health and the Protection of the human right to a healthy life. Thus, the WFPHA has signed this Declaration and calls upon individuals, public health organizations, and government bodies to support it as well.

WFPHA in support for the Global Prison Health Data Survey

There is currently an opportunity to enable countries and researchers to access useable, directly comparable data on prison health governance, systems and administration.

During 2016 and 2017 WHO (Europe) regional office provided the questionnaire to WHO national contact points in member countries in the Europe region. So far 38 of these member countries have completed the survey, in consultation with their prison health authorities, via a system for on-line data entry.

The next stage is to expand this questionnaire to other WHO regions. A coalition is forming to undertake this work and make the minimum dataset truly global, with an initial focus on Asia Pacific countries.

The project is being developed in collaboration with the WHO (Europe) Health in Prisons Program, which will host the results on the existing platform.

Support to SESPAS

On March the 5TH 2018 the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) followed up on a letter that member organization SESPAS (Sociedad Española de Salud Pública y Gestión Sanitaria) submitted to the Minister of Health, Social Services, and Equality regarding their Assessment Council of Health. The WFPHA agreed with the two points raised by SESPAS in their letter and expressed our support of them.

The WFPHA stressed that public policy on health needs a public health vision in order to be comprehensive and effective. The values and principles of public health are inherent to any action aimed at improving the health of the population as shown by the history and performance of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other global health related organizations.

Equity is among the principles of public health; this is why the WFPHA encourages the consideration of gender issues as suggested by SESPAS. As the Minister not only of Health, but also Social Services and Equity, the WFPHA felt that they held the power to make decisions that could directly impact their populations and promote social changes towards gender equality.

8.-Charter Implementation

Bangladesh-International Scienctific Conference and Health Fair

The WFPHA was honored to have a display of the Global Charter for the Public’s Health at the International Scientific Conference and Health Fair hosted by the Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh. This event marked the 5th anniversary of the founding of the Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh and the Health Fair was the first of its kind in the country.

The WFPHA calls upon national public health associations to continue to share and promote the Global Charter and to fully embrace its services of protection, prevention and health promotion as well as its four enabler functions of good governance, accurate information, effective advocacy and capacity building. Utilization of these services and functions will serve as a pathway to resilient health systems globally.

Cameroon-International Forum on the Global Charter for the Public's Health

The International Forum on the Global Charter for the Public' Health took place this year from March 14 to 16 2018 at the Hotel Azur in Yaoundé in Cameroon.

The forum brought together participants from twelve African countries, and was aimed at contributing to the improvement of the health of the African populations through a better utilizing of key services and essential functions of public health in the development, implementation and evaluation of National Health Policies based on equity, social justice and the participation of all.

As a result of the forum the participants made the commitment to work individually, collective and at an institutional level to promote the application of the Global Charter for the Public' Health in institutions and organizations as well as in their countries.

The development of several recommendations, their eventual implementation, as well as the satisfaction of the Participants' expectations will undoubtedly contribute significantly to the adoption and application of the Global Charter in Africa.

To read the entire report of the forum in French, or to read a summary in English, please visit our webpage for the event.

9.-News from our Members

The #2WeeksCampaign has started!

The WFPHA is providing its members with a great opportunity to increase their visibility. All the interested members will have the occasion to highlight activities, challenges, achievements in public health, as well as public health topics of their own country on the WFPHA social media during two dedicated weeks. The WFPHA welcomes all its members to take part to the campaign to set up new potential partnerships and joint advocacy actions.

Most recently covered was the Sudanese Public Health Association from Feb 19- March 4 followed by the Cameroon Public Health Association who had their campaign from March 5-17.

The next #2WeeksCampaigns will be dedicated to Vietnam, Spain, and Canada.

11.-WFPHA Members Communication

Meet The New Intern

Colleen O'Rourke is a student at Boston University (BU) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Upon admission, Colleen was accepted into a program at BU’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, through which she will earn both a B.S. in Health Sciences and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT). She has supplemented her studies in Physical Therapy with a minor in Business Administration, as well as coursework in Public Health.

She has made substantial efforts to understand both the clinical and the administrative aspects of healthcare. This past summer, she worked in a physical therapy office as both the Office Manager - for which her major duties were in medical billing and coordination with insurance companies to ensure reimbursement to the company - and also as a Clinical Aide, assisting the Physical Therapists in patient treatment.

At Boston University, she works in the Office of Disabilities Services, helping students secure accommodations for a wide range of psychiatric and physical disabilities. She was inducted into the Sargent College Honors Society to recognize her high grades, and was selected to be a Dean’s Health and Life Sciences Fellow, a group affiliated with the Questrom School of Business. Through her membership in Kappa Delta Sorority, Colleen volunteers as a mentor for Girl Scouts America and in fundraising efforts for Prevent Child Abuse America (PCAA).

Colleen has thoroughly enjoyed her experience working abroad and plans to incorporate an international perspective into her future career.

12.-WFPHA Working Groups

Oral Health Working Group

Nearly half of the world's population is affected by oral diseases and suffered disabilities from oral diseases. Many studies have shown that oral health has a substantial influence on quality of life. And yet, oral diseases are a neglected epidemic.

The Oral Health Working Group of the WFPHA has recently published the article, "Global oral health in the framework of the Global Charter for the Public's Health", in the Journal of Public Health Policy. You can read the article at http://rdcu.be/IVNL

The WFPHA has made oral health a priority and calls for all global health leaders to advocate for oral health as an essential part of overall health in public health policy.

13.-Advertising & Courses

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Every year since 1990, the School of Medicine of the University of Geneva organizes the MAS Santé Publique Programme.

This continuing education program in French is the first master in public health in Switzerland, and one of the first programs in Europe about this subject.

This master is recognized by Swiss School of Public Health, Fondation Promotion Santé Suisse and Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER).

During 3 years, students follow courses in the University of Geneva (5 weeks per year) and do several projects about public health. Students are coached by the faculty and by several colleagues working in international organizations (World Health Organizations, ICRC, ONU, etc.).

If you are interested in doing this master, don’t hesitate to contact or

The Associate Professor will be responsible to the Head of School of Population & Global Health and provide leadership in Global Health teaching and research nationally. The applicant will undertake teaching, research and research supervision, contribute to the academic environment of the School and collaborate with other staff within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and the virtual ‘Centre for Lifelong Health’.

The new third edition of Mayo Clinic Antimicrobial Therapy is fully updated and revised to reflect the latest guidelines and drug development since the second edition. Chapters have been added on the following subjects: bioterrorism, prosthetic joint and transplant infections, treatment options targeted for hepatitis B and C infections, and dosing for obese and neonatal patients.

Part of the Mayo Clinic Scientific Press suite of publications, this compact, user-friendly resource brings the specialized knowledge of Mayo Clinic to your fingertips.

Advertise with us on our media, newsletter and new Annual Report for 2017

14.-What's on

2018 Geneva Health Forum

The WFPHA's Executive Director Bettina Borisch delivered the final Keynote Address at a Geneva Health Forum satellite session entitled, "Digital health, eHealth, mHealth: Breakthrough for public health or creating new dependency? A critical look at the current hype". This satellite session was hosted by the Networks Medicus Mundi International.

The session took a critical look at the topic of digital technology (DT) and identified many concerns regarding its implementation into global healthcare systems. The conclusion was made that DT has the potential to transform many fields of human activity, including healthcare. However, its impact can only be predictable and beneficial if there is strong public control on the use of such technologies. The WFPHA calls on the WHO to exhibit global health leadership to identify and put effective protocols into place to assess DT health and health equity.

11th Geneva Conference on Person-Centered Medicine

Bettina Borisch, Executive Director of the WFPHA, presented at the 11th Geneva Conference on Person-Centered Medicine, hosted by the International College of Person-Centered Medicine.

Here, she provided a public health perspective to the topic of personal medicine, raising the point that the core functions of patient-centered medicine and public health are the same. This means that we cannot separate patient-centered medicine from Public Health. Instead, Public Health can be used to make change happen on the medicine level. Most notably, when a public health system is strengthened, patient-centered medicine and health outcomes benefit as well, particularly in regards to equity and access.

The Global Charter for the Public's Health #GCPH provides a comprehensive, clear and flexible framework that can be utilized to build these resilient health systems that will bring improvements to the field of patient-centered medicine.

Innovation and Pathways in Global Health Governance Symposium

Consisting of a keynote speech by David Held, Professor of Politics and International Relations at Durham University, followed by two panel discussions on Innovation and Polycentricity, and Global politics and the role of political leadership, the focus of the symposium was on the current state of international governance.

Concepts introduced included ‘Gridlock Pathways’ which act as means to bypass barriers to global governance. The panel discussion touched on missed health opportunities, such as the delayed response to the Antimicrobial Resistance crisis, that are approaching a point of no return. Further discussion was given over to the common reaction to call for a new international body when an existing one falls short of international expectations when faced with a crisis, and the need for organisations in these situations to remain resilient to prevent needless duplication of agencies and organisations.

Sustainability was another major point of discussion, and going forward the Sustainable Development Goals are expected to guide many decisions made. With treatment costs predicted to continue rising, public-private partnerships will be required to address these unsustainable changes. Public health and preventative action continue to prove themselves critical aspects of sustainable health worldwide. The importance of global governance and collaborations will also continue to grow and one lesson learned from the recent global migrant crisis is that no one country can go it alone; global problems require global solutions.

15.-Upcoming events

Tue Apr 09, 2019 Hotel Africana in Kampala, Uganda

The International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) in conjunction with Makerere University Environmental Health Students' Association (MUEHSA) announce the call for abstracts for the 3rd IFEH Academic and 16th MUEHSA Scientific Conference that will take place from 9th to 11th April 2019 at Hotel Africana in Kampala, Uganda. Read more...

Sun Oct 20, 2019 Edinburgh, Scottland

The annual International Conferences on Law Enforcement and Public Health brings together practitioners, researchers and policy makers from law enforcement (especially police, prosecutors and the judiciary), the breadth of public health, and local government to promote awareness of and better understand the importance of collaborations and partnerships in addressing complex social issues. Key themes at this extraordinarily multisectoral conference include mental health, violence, trauma, epidemic disease, alcohol and other drugs, marginalisation and vulnerability ... but the list of relevant issues is endless. The next conference, LEPH2019, will be in Edinburgh 20-23 October, 2019. Read more...